health improving

[Guest guest]

I'd like to update you on my health improvement situation. I still continue

to lose weight, though I am now building muscle mass with frequent workouts

on Bow-flex and other weight equipment. Always every other day to allow

muscles to repair and avoid overstimulation.

I am also trying to walk for 45 minutes to an hour several times a week. No

more than three times. Never two days in a row. Especially with my painful

feet. I have found that walking in solid soled shoes is better than gym

type shoes which do not protect feet from twisting on uneven ground or

gravel, especially the large gravel often put on slopes.

Walking and working out with a friend is a great encouragement. I wouldn't

have done as much as I have done if it hadn't been for the friendly

encouragement and challenge offered by friends. Plus its much more

enjoyable than doing it alone.

The diet continues to go well. I am controlling most of the IBS problems by

adhering to a strict elimination diet. I eat only those foods that do not

cause intestinal problems and add new foods one at a time to determine

whether they will cause a problem. Believe me, at this point, six months

into it, problem foods usually show symptoms within minutes of eating them.

My overall health is the best it has been in years. My endurance is way up,

and the fatigue problems are much less. Don't misunderstand, there are

still days when I get home after work and crash into bed and sleep until its

time to go to work the next day. But that is infrequently compared to six

months ago when it was a daily challenge to fight the chronic fatigue.

My ability to handle the chronic pain is greatly improved. I am currently

only taking the occassional Motrin when the pain levels begin to climb. I

am still taking Effexor 225 mg daily and Trazodone 150 mg daily at bedtime

(both are antidepressants). The Effexor has proven to be a great benefit to

handling pain and keeping depression caused by pain from interferring with

my life. I take the Effexor at bedtime since I usually react to it by going

to sleep. The Trazodone then keeps me asleep, i.e., lengthens the deep

sleep cycle, and allows me to sleep through the night properly. Without the

Trazodone I still wake up within an hour or two of going to bed and then I'm

awake all night.

Since Thanksgiving I have given up all pain medication, all anti-anxiety

medications, all sleep meds, and all muscle relaxers. This may not be

possible for everyone, but it has proven beneficial to me. I no longer want

the side-effects of such medications in my life. For me, the side effects

were not worth the benefits they provided.

Get good and appropriate exercise into your life. Reduce your weight!!

Work with your doctor to maintain a good sleep pattern. Be sure to monitor

your depression...all chronic pain patients have depression whether you wish

to acknowledge it or not...and work with your doctor to find an

antidepressant that helps with your depression and your pain managment.

These improvements in my health situation have helped me cope with

separation and pending divorce after 34 years of marriage. I am dating

again and have a great dating partner. Even with the continuing family

difficulties I feel like a winner!

Ray, moderator